Crate.



B. F. FERGUSON CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED urns, 190s.

' Patented Jan.'26, 1909.

-2SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Even for PART BEIGE,"

BENJAMIN F. FERGUSON, or risnonmeo, OKLAHOMA.

CRATE Sp ecification oi- Letters Patent.

latentedJan. 26, 1909 I App i ation filed Jamm '3, 190a Serial No. stasis.v

To all whom it may concern: a Be i know that I, BENJAMIN F. FERGU- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tishomingo, in .the county of Johnston and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in Crates, or which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates to-foldable crates for general use, but particularly adapted for the shipment of poultry and for the latter serving as a coop.

The crate 1s slmple in construction, ,com

paratively inexpenslvein manufacture, can e readily and expeditiously knocked downcrate as shown arranged by Fig. 1. Fig. 3.

is a perspective'view of one end of the'lower portion of the crate. Fig. 4 is asimilar view of the end portion of the upper art of the crate.- Fig. 5 is a lan view of t e crate in collapsed or knock- Wn condition-and looking towards the topthereof. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the crate as, shown by Fig. -5 with a portion thereof broken-away. Fig. -7- is a transverse vertical section of the crate in its collapsed condition. l

Similar characters of reference are employed-to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The crate includes in its construction a base of foundation memberf consisting of a plate or board 2 having crossieces 3' fas tened on the upper side thereo at opposite ends. The opposite ends of the cross-pieces 3 are set. or fitted in mortises or recesses formed in the outerends of' airs of blocks 4 also secured on the-upper si e of the base 2,

the said blocks 4' constituting bearings for swinging. ends particularly shown by Fig. 3 and eac comprising 'a bottom bar 5 having its. opposite ends 'fulcrumed in the said blocks, a top bar'6', and a-pl'urality of slats 7 disposed'in' parallelism and laterally spaced 'to provide for ventilation..-, The slats 7 are 7 terminally secured respectively to the bars .5gand 6, and the end complete is movable :between theblocks 4.

- The-end structure just described is duplicated sitopposite extremities ofthe crate, and whenv inoperative position stand vertically as shownhy Fig. 3.; The lower porofithe'base. and swinging-ends, the upp'er portion of the crate being com letely separable from the lower portion and comprising a top" and swinging-sides, the latter standing vertically when the crate isset and folding' substantially. in horizonta positions against the under side of the top when the crate is "collapsed;

cludes in its structure a plurality of longitudinally extending bars 8, two-of these bars being shown and'having a plurality of slats or strips I 9, extending. transversely thereover and securedthereto in any suitable manner. The bars 8 extend between and are terminally fastened'to end bars 10, see Fig. 4, the two end bars 10, the bars 8, and the slats or strips. 9 forming a skeleton frame which con stitutes the top of thecrate. Between the pivoted at their opposite in 'the .said end bars. 10 and" extendhig implanes parallel to the bars 8.. Thehars" 11 have complemental bars 12, therespective bars 1 1 and 12 being connected b jjsla ts 1-3 of which theremay be any desire numberL- It will therefore be understoodl-that'the side of the crate is coniposed of the bars '11. and 12 and connecting ats 13, thetwo-sidesbeing capatremities of the slats 9 of the top project outwardly beyond the bars 8 to loosely bear on to'the fact that the latter bars "are by preference polygonal in cross-section, the projecting'portions of the slats 9 b engagmg one flat face of each of the sai oscillatory or rockin bars the sides will be maintained in vertica l osition when set up. It will be understood that the projecting extremities of the top slats 9 will be more or less resilient in view ofsthe fact that they are a thin structure and for this reason the sides may be disposed and held in vertical osition without iability of breaking or injuring the said slats. The lower bars 12 are substantially the same length as the bars 11 .the two swinging sides in view of this similarity of dimensions of the bars can be folded or collapsed between the end bars 10 against the under edges orfaces of the bars 8, the latter being disposed at such elevation With respect tion ,ofthe crate therefore consists essentially and bars 10 are oscillatory or rocking bars 11 the oscillatory or rocking barsgrl, and owing.

ble of swinging motion. The oppositeex gg the bearing to the bars 10 as to compensate for the thickness of the slats 13 under the bars 8 and permit a compact folding of the sides.

Sn the upper side of the base 2 adjacent to the end bars 3, blocks 14 are secured and arranged in 0 osite pairs and abut against {docks 4. These blocks 14 serve as seat blocks and are provided with cutaway portions or seats 15. When the upper portion of the crate is folded it will be placed in the area defined by the several blocks 4 and end bars 3 and the bars 11 of the sides will be disposed in the seat blocks so as to positively prevent side motion of the folded or collapsed upper ortion of the crate. intermediate seat b ocks 16, similar to the blocks 14, are secured on the up er side of the base 2 at the center'of the atter and transversely alined, the blocks 16 being provided with swiveled hooks 17 to engage the bars 11 and 12. The seat blocks 16 are also engaged by the bars 11 when the other portion oi the crate is folded or collapsed and all or" the blocks 14 and 16 are straddled by pairs of slats 13 adjacent thereto and which prevent endwise movement of the folded or collapsed upper portion ofthe crate. When the bars 11 are in engagement with the seat blocks 14 and 16 and the sides of which said bars form a part are infolded under the top, separation or vertical movement of the upper folded portion of the crate with relation to the base is prevented by turning the hooks 17 inwardly over the said bars 11. When the upper portion of the crate is released from the base and erected in operative position, the bars 12 engage the seat blocks 14 and 16 and by this means the sides of the upper; portion of the crate are maintained in a movable position particularly when engaged by the cooperating ends supported by theblocks 4 and which will he more fully hereinafter specified. The bars 12 will be prevented from having any tendency towards disengagement from the seat blocks 14 and 16 by the movable hooks 17 which are turned thereover as shown by Fig. 1. It is obvious that the hooks 17 may be readily turned into or from engagement with. the bars 1]. and 12 and serve as an ellicient means for aiding in positively positioning the upper portion of the crate either when the latter is erected in operative position or when collapsed or folded.

To prevent the upper portion of the crate from moving endwise or shiltin longitudinally over the base when the sides are disposed in vertical positions, the bars 12 are provided with longitudinal stops 18 which are adapted to abut against the inner sides of the seat blocks 14 or to lie in such close relation to the blocks 14 as to come forcefully into contact. with the latter and obstruct longitudinal movement of the sides in the seat blocks.-

. eiaese As hereinbefore indicated, the upper ortion of the crate when collapsed and eld against the base 2 is in such position with relationto the ends carried by the blocks 4 that said ends may overlie the opposite extremities of the folded upper-portion' of the cratewhen the said ends are infolded and it is necessary to provide means for locking the ends against movement, and, furthermore, 'by locking the ends when turned downwardly over the o posite extremities of the upper portion of t e crate, all the parts of the crate are ositively heldagainst movement when in. olded condition. This locking means consists of a sliding keeper 19 held on each extremity of the top and capable of endwise movemenathe keeper being guided in its movement by screws 26 secured in two of the slats 9 and projecting through slots 20 at opposite extremities of the keeper. The outer end of this keeper or slidin locking means is adapted to engage a slot or kerf 21 formed in the adjacent cross-bar 6, see Fig. 6. When the keepers or sliding locking means are in engagement with both bars 6 of the crate ends, the latter are positively held against accidental upward movement, and in releasing the parts of the crate it will he necessary to slide the keepers inwardly far enough to disengage the swinging crate ends.

The keepers may be formed of suitable resilient material, such as sheet metal, and are provided with downward deflections 22, one in each, to engage against two of the slats 9 for positively holding the keepers in their retracted positions and against. rattling when the crate is erected in operative position or at the time when the said kee era are disengaged from the swinging one. The deflections 22 also provide finger-engaging shoulders to facilitate movement of the keepers, and, furthermore, the said deflections serve as means for preventing the accidental disengagement of the keepers from the slots or kerfs 21 in view of their position under such conditions between two of the slats 9, as shown by Fig. 6. Each bar 6 is also equipped with a pair of ins 23 which are adapted to extend throug perforations or holes 24 in the end bars 10 of the top as shown by Fi 1, to prevent outward movement or displacement of the upper or removable portion of the crate and also to hold the swinging ends in operative relation to the said upper or'removable ortion of the crate. The pins 23 are provi'ed at their inner ends with headed projections 25 preferably consisting of screws and cooperative with gravitating latch plates or latches 26 carried by the inner sides of the end bars 10. Each latch plate 26 has a pair of vertically elongated slots through which are passed screws 27 extending into the bar 10 and permitting free vertical movement of the plates, but obstructing endwise movement thereof. Each latch late or gravitating latch also has a pair of ey-hole slots 28 which are adapted to coincide with the perforations or holes 24 to permit the headed projections 25 to pass through the enlarged portions thereof and the shanks of said projections to be engaged by the contracted parts of said key-hole slots and thus temporarily lock the swinging ends against the opposite extremities or end bars 10 of the crate top. In releasing the swinging. ends, the latch plates or gravitating.

latches 26 are elevated by hand to bring the enlarged portions of the key-hole slots in mg istration with the heads of the projections 25 to permit the pins 23 and the said projections to be drawn outwardly through the perforations or holes 24 by exerting anoutward pull on the swinging ends.

To permit access to the interior of the crate or coop the top section is in the present instance provided with a door comprising two or more of the transverse slats or strips- 9 which are left unsecured with relation to the longitudinal bars 8, and two or more cross-bars 29 and 30, a series of three bars being'shown in the resent instance. These cross bars are similar in construction and each provided with a suitable number of notches 31 to' receive corresponding transverse slats which for the purpose of particular distinction are designated as 9*, and each cross bar or cross piece is provided with notches 32 which engage beneath and also at the sides of the adjacent stationary transverse slats 9. The cross bars extend beneath the transverse slats, and when thenotches 32 are in engagement with the stationary slats 9 at each side of the door, the removable slats 9 are held against movement either vertically or in a direction longitudinally of the crate, and, furthermore, as the cross bars just fit within the longitudinal bars 8 of the crate to endwise displacement of the removable slats is also prevented. When it is desired-t6 remove the slats? to afford access to'the interior of the crate a pressure isapplied to the center of the removable slats to depress the cross bars thereof anddisengage the notches 32 from the stationary slats to permit the cross bars or cross pieces to be released at one end, and

after being thus'released the removable slats may be readily withdrawn from the crate. In erecting the crate the upper removable port on is positioned on the ase with the sides in upright position and in engagement with the seat blocks 14 and 15, as hereinbefo're explained. The swinging ends are.

then turned u wardly and the pins. 23- carrying the hea ed projections 25 are ushed through the apertures or holes 24 in t e end bars .10 and through the enlar ed portions of the key-hole slots 28 in the p ates 26. The plates 26 gravitate and lock the headed proections 25 and the pins 23 and swinging said pins an ends connected with the base, a to ends against the op osite extremities of the crate top or remova le upper portion of the crate. The release of the swinging ends and ofthe swinging sides of the upper removable portion of th e crate will permit the parts to be readily foldedin compact form as hereinbe fore indicated.

Having thus described the invention, what is. claimed as new, is: v.

1. A crate comprisin a lower portion and an upper portion, the ower portion having outwardly swinging ends-provided with pins portion having openings to receive said pins as said ends are swung inwardly, said upper portion also having latching means to engage said headed pro ections.

'2. A crate comprising a base, swinging ends connected to the. base, a top provided with swinging sides, the ends of the top having perforations therethrough and the swinging ends provided with pins to enter said per forations, gravity latching means supported by the ends of the top, and means carried by the pins and engageable by the latchin means to hold the swinging ends in fixe relation with said top.

3. A crate comprising a base, swinging ends connected to said base and provided with ins having headed rojections, a top provi ed withswinging si es, the ends of the top'having perforations to receive said pins,

and the headed projections extending 1nwardly beyond the ends of said top when the ins are seated in the perforations, and latching plates supported for movements b the ends of the to in a direction erpendicu ar to provided with key-hole slots through which said headed projections are adapted to pass.

having headed projections, and the upper .4. A crate comprising a base having 5. A crate comprisinga base, swinging having end members carrying'swinging si es foldable against the under portion of the said top, the top and sides bein removably held on the base and the ends eing adapted to overlie the top when the latter is folded, and slidable keepers carried by the opposite extremities of the top to engage portions of the swinging ends when the latter and the sides and top are folded, the keepers being provided with downwardly deflected portiohs to engage the top when the keepers arc retracted to thereby hold said keepers in'rotractcd. positions. 6. A crate nvolving a' top having longitudinally extending bars, end bars fastened to .the'terminals of ,said longitudinally ex tending bars, rockingbars. terminally held by theend bars in parallelism to the lonygitudinally extending bars; complemental bars connected to the rocking bars by slats and forming with the latter swing ng sides, a base having means for engaging the comlemental bars swin in endsconnected to I b b opposite extremities of the base, and means for; attaching the swinging ends to the top, the topcarrying theswinging; sides being .emovable fro'rntheybase and the swinging sides foldable inwardly underthetop for disposition on the base, the swinging ends being foldable inwardly v over 'the opposite extremities of the folded, top-and swinging- .sides to hold the latter down against the base. I

. '7. A crate involving a top having longitudinall-y extending-bars, end bars arranged transversely with relation to said longitudinal bars and having the terminals of the latter fixed thereto, slats extendingtrans- 'versely across and fastened to said longitudinally extending b'ars and having their opposite extremities projecting beyond said latter bars and free and swin insides having upper longitudinally extendin bars fulc'rumedat opposite extremities 1n t e said end barsfto permit the s1des sto swing 1n- .avardly, the upper longitudinal bars of-the sides having angular faces and-the opposite free extremities of the slats projecting over and bearing on the upper angular faces of said upper bars of the sides to frictionally hold the latter bars and the sides against movement when the crate is set up. i

8. A crate comprisinga top having transversely extending slats w1th i'ree yielding extremities and a swinging side carried by the top and having an upper member fricti'onally engaged by the free yielding extremities of the slats to prevent movement of the said swinging side, the free yielding extremities of the slats being the sole holding means engaging the. upper portion of the swinging side.

9. A crate involving a top comprising 1011- rigidly fastened longitudinal bars above the lower edges of thesaid. end' bars, a base on which the top and swinging sides are remov ably mounted; and swinging ends held by the base and having extremities removably attachable to the transversely ext-ending end bars, the said swinging ends being foldable inwardly over the top and the base when the said top with its swinging sides is collapsed.

10. A crate comprlsinga base, swinging ends connected to opposite extremities of the base and foldable' inwardly over the latter, blocks disposedon the base near opposite ends and at intermediate points along the sidesjof the base and having seats infltheir upper dportions, a top having swinging sides thereby. and provided with lower carrie I bars which loosely and removably engage the said blocks to hold the said sides in vertical position, and means for securing'the sides against movement when in engagement with the blocks. I 11."A crate of .the'class described, com- "prising a' section composed of longitudinal ars, a series of spaced slats extending transversely of; and immovably secured 'to said bars, removable slats assembled in operative relation to said immovably-secured slats, and

cross-pieces secured to the under sides of the removable slats and extending inplanes at right. angles to all of the slats and having notches in their u persides' and at the ends to cooperate wit adjacent immovable or fixedslats to prevent lateral displacement of the movable slats, the cross-pieces also 00- operating at their outer edges with the inner edges of the longitudinal bars to prevent endwise displacement of the removable slats.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- I nesscs. v BENJAMIN F. FERGUSON.

'it-nesses;

llARiiI L. BnrsoN, 

